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94POINTS
17½/20
Osoyoos Larose 2022
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaI previewed the 2022 Osoyoos Larose Grand Vin last fall, well ahead of its expected release in the fall of 2026. Like almost every release since 2001, it displays potential well beyond that first glimpse. I caught up with the 2022 last week, and it is already beginning to wow this taster. In fact, I think I said wow three times when I first nosed it. Osoyoos Larose is owned and produced by Groupe Taillan from Bordeaux. Raphael Merlaut, a family member, was in BC to meet his on-site General Manager and Winemaker Michael Kullmann, during one of several tastings to determine when it will be released. There is a large team behind this wine, including a renowned Bordeaux consultant, Éric Boissenot, who collaborates to make a wine that leans toward structure, restraint, ageability and a sense of place, namely the Osoyoos Bench in the South Okanagan. The vineyard has undergone extensive renovations to address the implications of winter damage in 2023 and 2024. Amidst all that, they have produced a gem of a Grand Vin in 2022. The new bottle/package includes a label change, a move to Diam corks to prevent cork taint, and a wax-dipped bottle to support sustainability through aluminum capsules and provide better control of oxygen ingress as the wine ages in the bottle. The blend is merlot dominant, but they have increased the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (because they can fully ripen it now) to improve the structure. The nose is near perfect, awash in a fragrant perfume of red and black cherries and plums that spreads across a silky palate streaked with savoury desert scrub. A strong backbone, ample acidity, and perfect balance point to the potential for endless aging. In fact, Osoyoos Larose has always had a reputation as one of the best wines to cellar in Canada, and the '22 will be the latest example. The 2022 vintage also marks a major milestone as the first year the vineyard was certified Organic by PACS. The grapes grow on an 80 acre bench, divided into over 30 distinct blocks. We were unable to confirm the price by publication, so we've estimated the price below.Tasted: 10 March 2026Tasted by: Prices:| BC | $80.00 | 750ml | winery direct |
Blend: Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc - Petit Verdot - MalbecCSPC: 129999UPC: 871610001554
